brief account of which is given in the following pages, and the most of them are within a morning's excursion .
WINCHELSEA ,
Is situated on rising ground, about two miles and a half from Rye, eight from Hastings, and a mile from the sea . Although a town of very great antiquity, it is to be lamented that history does not furnish any account of it, except that it was once a very powerful member of the Cinque Ports, and contributed ten vessels, properly armed and equip ed, to the number furnished by those Ports for the public service.
According to tradition, few places in England have experienced greater calamities than Winchelsea, for not only was the Old Town entirely inundated by the overflowing of the sea, but before the expiration of twenty years after the new one was built, it suffered materially in consequence of being twice besieged and pillaged by the French and Spaniards, and again in the year 1358 ; but French were foiled in another attempt which they made to destroy it in theyear 1377 , after burning -
